Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/11/2023

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I purchased real estate in 2021 and in 2022 I began to receive billing statements from Lucas County for $11,717.06 for a “hardship deferral” that was placed in the property years prior. My Realtor contacted the title agency Area Title through email and was told by the Vice President of the Company ****** ***** that I was was not responsible for the amount owed unless I tap into the water line in the future (see email attachment). At the closing transaction I made the statement /question that as long as I didn’t owe anything the documents were good. The title agency said everything was good. In 2022 I received the bill for the deferred assessment and I called AREA Title VP ***** ****** and was told by her and also received a voicemail which I still have, stating that she had contacted the Lucas County Sanitary Engineers office and that I am not responsible for the $11,717.06. Over the next several months calls and emails were exchanged. I then spoke to the President of AREA Title **** ******, License #**** and he stated he was looking into the issue and I wasn’t responsible. He then sent me a letter which is attached stating AREA Title wasn’t responsible. I have spoke to the Lucas County Auditor ***** ***** and two other attorneys that all state the Title Agency is at fault and did not complete the proper fund transactions with the Sellers Estate. AREA Title was misleading to the Realtor *** ****** and myself. I am asking for the issue to be corrected so that neither party must go to litigation in the courts.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/06/2023

  I have attached the only other piece of evidence that I think is missing and that is my original email to Mr. ******.  Please confirm receipt of same.  When that email is read in conjunction with all of the evidence that Mr. ****** has already submitted; it is clear that this problem was caused by a county employee who gave my employee false information.  I have tried to convince the county to reduce or waive the fee they are charging Mr. ******.  I have also tried to convince the seller's estate, who sold the real estate to Mr. ****** to pay some or all of that fee as well.  I have had no success with either of these requests.  Mr. ****** has not reached out to me in many months to discuss this, despite several phone calls.  I would be glad to discuss this further with him.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 10/07/2023

  
  
  Complaint: ********
  
  
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  I have not received “several phone calls” from AREA Title. I received a letter stating they provided a service and fulfilled a commitment in that. That the issue is between the buyer and seller. 
  

  AREA title is not being being truthful or accepting responsibility for there mistake. 
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  
  
  ***** ******

  Business Response

  Date: 10/09/2023

  Since we are not members of the BBB, I am unsure as to what significance, if any, is tied to Mr. ******'s "rejection" of my response.  I don't even understand what that might mean.  Nevertheless, I will address his rejection by saying that I did indeed make phone calls to him (which went unanswered and unreturned) very early in this process.  I believe he was engaged in labor negotiations and was understandably busy at that time.  My final letter, which he refers to, remains our position.  It is indeed a matter between buyer and seller and should be treated as such.  That said, I was and am still willing to share in the cost of this County-caused mistake, if the seller is willing to as well.  That is what I wanted to discuss with Mr. ******.